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For Immediate Release:
February 22, 2008
Sen. Don Barrington
Burn Ban Legislation Advances to Senate
The Senate Agriculture Committee passed a
measure this week to give county commissioners the authority to
proclaim burn bans in their counties. Currently, the Governor is
the only entity with this power, but Senate Bill 1816, by Sen. Don
Barrington and Rep. Don Armes, would change that.
“When counties are facing extremely dry conditions, it’s
imperative that our local officials be able to proclaim a burn ban
immediately in order to spare land, businesses and homes from possible
destruction,” said Barrington, R-Lawton. “All it takes
is one person burning trash or someone tossing a cigarette out a
car window to cause acres of destruction.”
Before passing a resolution declaring the fire danger, a board would
need the consent of a majority of the municipal and certified rural
fire department chiefs or their designees in the county that such
a fire danger exists. The resolution would be effective for seven
days from the day of passage. If the extreme fire danger conditions
persisted, subsequent resolutions could be passed.
“Typically, the county commissioners and rural fire departments
are the ‘Boots on the ground’ in areas where dry conditions
can develop rapidly,” said Armes, R-Faxon. “This measure
would allow counties to be proactive and effectively get ahead of
the fire danger, address dry conditions quicker and hopefully decrease
property loss and reduce risk of injury to firefighters.”
Under provisions of the bill, violators would be guilty of a misdemeanor
and subject to a fine of no more than $500, imprisonment for up
to one year or both. The measure also increases the fine for anyone
who sets a fire during a gubernatorially-proclaimed burn ban from
$500 to $1,000.
“Our state is all too familiar with how devastating wild fires
can be,” said Barrington. “This bill will help speed
up the process and help prevent future wildfires by letting those
living and working in the area decide what their level of fire danger
is and take immediate action, rather than having to wait on the
Governor to make an announcement.”
If approved and signed into law, the measure would become effective
immediately.
For more information contact:
Senator Barrington's Office: (405) 521-5563
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